-LRB- CNN -RRB- Much like the ardent young royal-watchers of today , enamored by the Duchess of Cambridge 's very being , I was similarly captivated by Diana , Princess of Wales when I was a youngster .

She was a rare breed : stunningly beautiful , immediately accessible , witty , charming and endearingly mischievous -- she was one in a million .

Of course that was long before the , `` there were three of us in this marriage , so it was a bit crowded , '' interviews and tell-all books alleging suicide attempts and acts of betrayal , but back then I was unaware of her more scandalous infamy . I simply adored her ... I still do .

As the world awaits the impending birth of William and Kate 's second baby , potential names have become the topic of rampant speculation and heated debate . Girls ' names are causing the biggest stir , as there seems to be a belief that the couple are expecting a princess .

If the assumptions are correct , she will be the first Princess of Cambridge born into the royal family in 182 years . The birth of any baby is cause for celebration , but given recent changes in the laws of succession , her arrival would be a historical one .

In choosing a name , titled royals tend to turn to the family tree , rather than a well-thumbed copy of `` 1,001 Best Baby Names '' like the rest of us .

Traditionally they pick dynastic names , and there are plenty to choose from : Elizabeth , Alice , Victoria and Charlotte have all been frontrunners , but the sentimental favorite among punters remains Diana .

In a recent Today Show poll , 32 % of Americans predicted the name was a shoo-in , and in the UK the bookies ' odds of a baby named after her late grandmother change almost daily as Diana becomes an increasingly popular choice .

That said , in the event the couple do welcome a baby girl , I would hope that they do not opt to name her Diana .

Today Diana 's name is as divisive as the very institution of monarchy itself : while some have virtually sainted her , others have been vehemently critical , accusing her of being childish , unhinged and self-serving .

Contrary to popular belief the Queen was very fond of Diana , but should her name be bestowed as a first name upon the baby , it would be perceived as a slap in the face to the monarchy .

In the years since Earl Spencer 's scathing attack on the Windsors at Diana 's funeral , the nation has moved on and Diana 's legacy has been celebrated . She has become a part of royal history . Her memory has been preserved , and the royal family is once again enjoying a renewed sense of popularity .

Out of respect to the Queen , Charles , Camilla and the baby herself the couple simply would n't do it .

Diana 's name conjures up both positive and negative responses the world over , and whichever side of the fence you 're on , the moniker seems to me an almighty burden for a newborn baby to carry .

Since Diana 's death almost 18 years ago , William has honored his mother 's memory in a private and personal fashion . He has taken on many of her patronages and continued to champion her causes .

At his wedding in 2011 the Bishop of London , Richard Chartres , a close friend of Diana and executor of her will , gave the address . The hymn Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer , which was sung at both Diana 's funeral in 1997 and at the memorial marking the tenth anniversary of her death in 2007 , was chosen for the royal wedding .

Julia Samuel , another close friend of Diana , was asked to serve as Godmother to Prince George . William chose Kensington Palace , his own childhood home , to be the primary residence for his family , and in perhaps the most public acknowledgment of his mother 's memory , he gave Kate Diana 's engagement ring .

William does n't need to name his second-born child after his mother in order to honour her ; he does so by being a good husband and father .

I still miss Diana . She was a one-off , and I do n't believe the world will ever witness another quite like her .

Daily comparisons to her late mother-in-law are already Kate 's cross to bear . Should n't a baby girl be spared the same fate ?

Diana 's tragic , untimely death and iconic status will ensure her memory is kept alive for generations to come . She would n't want her granddaughter to languish in her shadow .

She would want her to go out into the world , to make her own mark and help those less fortunate , to enrich the lives of others and to carve out her own unique identity -- as Alice , Elizabeth , Victoria , Charlotte , or -- my own personal pick -- Alexandra .

@highlight

As William and Kate await the arrival of their second child , speculation is rife as to what he or she will be named

@highlight

Royal expert Victoria Arbiter argues that naming a newborn princess after Diana would put too much pressure on her